Meghan Brown (2016) indentified five skillsets that topped the list of the requirement by experts on engineering recruitment. These are:
1. Technical Skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Interpersonal Skills
4. Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
5. Enthusiasm, Commitment and Motivation
Technical skills will still be the main skillset recruiters look at when assessing candidates. They want to know that you have the education, credentials and experience that the job requires. Technical skills are critical to success in a technical role. A company hiring software engineers, for instance, will likely require that applicants possess strong technical ability in computer programming languages such as Java and C++.
From your education, be it an HNC/HND, a degree or an alternative qualification, you should have gained the basic technical skills needed to become a professional engineer. However, the technical skills can vary given the engineering discipline and job role being performed. For example, it may be common for a chemical engineer to use chemical process simulation software such as Aspen, whereas a mechanical engineer may need to use 3D CAD design software to design mechanical components.
The technical skills for Nigerian graduate would not follow the usual pattern because of the following reasons:
1. High level of unemployment in the country.
2. Poor secondary school background with respect to technical and basic technology practicals.
3. Unhealthy organizational practices by firm in Nigeria hiring roles on contract.
From the foregoing, it is recommended that a Nigerian Engineering graduate look at going for practical training on one or two of the following fields before considering furthering for specialization in post graduate studies. The list is line with National Board for Technical Education Modular Curricula (2000). The skills include:
1. Engineering drawing and design.
2. Agricultural equipment and implement mechanics work: Cereal harvesting, storage and processing equipment. Tractor testing, overhauling
and farm management.
3. Motor vehicle mechanics work: major engine and transmission repair. Chasis, suspension, steering and braking system.
4. Electrical installation and maintenance work: industrial installation and winding of electrical machine. Electrical/electronic engineering science.
5.Fabrication and Welding: welding, structural mechanics and specification, structural steel work.
6. Mechanical engineering craft: tool and die making, machine shop production, and mechanical engineering science.
7. Radio television and electronics: coloured television.
8. Refrigeration and airconditioning work.
9. Vehicle body building: vehicle body design and production, vehicle body welding.
10. Foundary craft practice.
11.Marine craft practice: marine engine and transmission, hot and cold water, heating and ventilation and vessel services.
12.Bricklaying/blocklaying and concrete work.
13.Carpentry and joinery.
14.Furniture making.
15.Machine wood working: saw-milling machines and practice.
16.Painting and decoration.
17.Plumbing and pipefitting.
18. Instrument mechanics work.
These skills can be obtained from any of the federal, state and private technical colleges and trade/technical centers scattered all over the country. A graduate engineer needs to check the skill that will be relevant to his engineering discipline and go in for it. One can have access to these colleges/technical/trade centers by registering as a trainee or volunteering as instructor. In developed countries, a professor in engineering can practically handle lots of engineering trades. So it is not a badge of honour growing an engineering career with technical skills. You can’t design, supervise, or build what you have not worked with. So get a skill or skills today.
Read more: https://odfidtechnicalworld..com/2019/11/technical-skills-for-engineering.html